How far is Gilberts, IL from Des Plaines, IL?

The driving distance from Gilberts, IL to Des Plaines, IL is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 25.5 miles (41.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
33.17 mi
00h 37m
Flight
25.57 mi
41.15 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gilberts.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
25.57 mi
Kilometers
41.15 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.17 mi
Kilometers
53.39 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Plaines
Wed, Apr 22, 11:49 PM CDT
Return by in Gilberts
Thu, Apr 23, 12:27 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gilberts
2026-04-22T23:11
Arrive Des Plaines
Wed, Apr 22, 11:49 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Gilberts
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
South Barrington
IL

Village in United States of America

From Gilberts
14.5 mi
00h 18m
To Des Plaines
18.7 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gilberts and Des Plaines.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gilberts and Des Plaines.

  1. 1

    Start on East Higgins Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · East Higgins Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Randall Road

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Randall Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto I 90 East Toll: Chicago

    1846 ft · 47 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    20.6 mi · 22 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Elmhurst Road

    2200 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Elmhurst Road North

    88 m · 9 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto South Elmhurst Road

    1889 ft · 42 sec · South Elmhurst Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Oakton Street

    645 ft · 13 sec · West Oakton Street

  9. 9

    Continue on West Oakton Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Oakton Street

  10. 10

    Continue on East Oakton Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Oakton Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Lee Street

    2735 ft · 59 sec · Lee Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto East Algonquin Road

    2758 ft · 2 min · East Algonquin Road

  13. 13

    Turn left onto White Street

    650 ft · 30 sec · White Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Henry Avenue

    80 m · 12 sec · Henry Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henry Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gilberts and Des Plaines.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
15 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway
20.6 mi · 62%
East Higgins Road
1.93 mi · 6%
Randall Road
1.68 mi · 5%
East Oakton Street
1.36 mi · 4%
West Oakton Street
1 mi · 3%
East Algonquin Road
0.52 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

20.6 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.7 mi
25.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Barrington
00h 18m from Gilberts
Leave By
7:14 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gilberts and Sunny near Des Plaines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gilberts to Des Plaines?

The road trip is about 33.2 miles (53.4 km) and usually takes 00h 37m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

South Barrington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.5 miles from Gilberts and 18.7 miles from Des Plaines.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 25.5 miles (41.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.41 one way or $8.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gilberts and Sunny near Des Plaines.

Stop Ideas Near South Barrington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around South Barrington, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to South Barrington.

RAIL

Glenview station

26 mi away
1116 Depot St.
RAIL

Naperville

35 mi away
105 E. Fourth Ave.
RAIL

La Grange Road

37 mi away
25 West Burlington St.
RAIL

Summit

42 mi away
Archer Ave. and South Center Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gilberts and Des Plaines. Straight-line distance: 25.57 mi (41.15 km).

Gilberts

#1 Gilberts

Human settlement in Illinois, United States of America

Population8,071
Coordinates42.1033600, -88.3728600
Altitude274
CountryUnited States
Des Plaines

#2 Des Plaines

The most populous city in Cook County, Illinois.

Population58,179
Coordinates42.0333600, -87.8834000
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Start: East Higgins Road (-88.372839, 42.103358)
End: Henry Avenue (-87.883408, 42.033456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 53 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.17 gal
4.43 L · about $4.41
Round trip
$8.82
2.34 gal · 8.86 L
Estimated CO2
10.4 kg one way
Round trip: 20.8 kg / 46 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.41 $8.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.98 $9.95
Premium $4.65 $5.45 $10.89
Diesel $5.30 $6.21 $12.41

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Gilberts and Des Plaines. The current time is 23:11:49.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.